* Give us as much information about when you noticed the problem and what, if anything, you've done to try to resolve it yourself.

James Shaw is worried about overhanging trees on the east end of Blackman Road in Anderson County, he said.

Shaw wrote to For Your Inquiry about the problem, indicating that the trees are so close to the road that a rainstorm could uproot them easily, posing a threat.

Located near Mount Lebanon Elementary School in the Pendleton area, the portion of Blackman Road in question, which is near Eastview Drive, is part a bus route for that school. When children start classes later this month for the coming school year, the trees could prove fatal, Shaw said.

"If (the trees) were to fall on one of the school buses, it would be a disaster," he said.

According to Shaw, the dangerously perched trees span a distance 300 feet to 500 feet long, and some of the road over which they hang is curved.

"Someone needs to come and fix the problem," Shaw said in a telephone interview. "Any rain might bring them right down."

Who's responsible?

The Anderson County transportation department road maintenance division is responsible because the county maintains Blackman Road.

Is a fix coming?

Tony Owens, the county roads and bridges manager, said he is addressing the issue raised by Shaw.

"We cut our entire county system six times a year, and we cut 14 feet high and 15 feet back or at least to the back of the ditch (where ditches exist)," Owens said.

Different workers make trips frequently to the area of concern to Shaw, Owens said, so it is possible the area was just bypassed on the last maintenance routine. Owens has also put in a work request for the area.

"We will send them out there to do it," Owens said. "If (the foliage) goes beyond the normal cutback, then they will come back to check and see what our supervisors want to do."

Have a similar issue?

A resident who knows of trees, potholes or any other road maintenance problems should call the road maintenance division of the county transportation department at (864) 260-4242. If the road in question is not a county-maintained road, county officials will direct the caller to the correct agency to address an issue.